OCDMA Based Satellite to Underwater VLC Transmissions for Oceanic Monitoring

Recently, optical wireless communication has emerged as a promising alternative to radio frequency communication across various domains such as atmospheric, deep space, and underwater transmissions. Specifically, the technology of satellite-to-underwater communication holds immense potential for applications in commercial, naval, scientific, and engineering sectors owing to its attributes including high data rates, robust security, extensive reach, and cost-effectiveness. This study delves into the performance assessment of an oceanic monitoring system aimed at bridging the gap between underwater and terrestrial environments. To ensure continuous real-time monitoring and widespread coverage, the communication infrastructure is augmented by a satellite link. The evaluation focuses on a direct detection Optical Code Division Multiple Access (OCDMA) system operating within an underwater wireless optical channel (UWOC). Various performance metrics are scrutinized through analytical analyses, with simulations conducted by manipulating key parameters such as range, transmitted power, user count, and inclination angle. The investigation also accounts for different modulation techniques tailored to distinct water types classified according to the Jerlov classification system. The obtained results reveal a substantial correlation between Bit Error Rate (BER) performance and both the water type and the receiver's positioning.